Railroad-cab



E. RICE. l Cay' Coupling.

- Patented Mar. 6v

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EDWARD RICE, OF OANANDAIGUA NEW YORK.

RAILROAD-can' coUPLING.

Spccation-of Letters Patent No. 12,490,l dated March 6, 1855.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

x that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1 being a top view; Fig. 2 a side view, and Figs. 3, 4,' and 5 vertical sections in the line :c of Fig. 1, showing the coupling in different positions.

Similar letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

The nature of my invent-ion consists in such an arrangement of the coupling apparatus, that the apparatus securely self couples when brought together, and by `which it can be uncoupled at any time when ,t `the cars are in motion "The coupling apparatus is connected to the ends of the draft and bumper bar A,

and consists of the following parts: viz: the

catches G, G, G, G, which are hinged to the angles of the bar A, by means of the straps 'Z; the inclined planes F, F, F, F,-which are connected to the bar A, by means Aof their respective springs 7e, 7c; and the flaring mouth D, which works within the catches G, G, G, G, and is connected to the embracing band I-I, by means of the bars Z, Z, Z, Z; and is connected to the legs of the operating lever E, by means of the bridle pieces a, n. The legs of said lever E, em` brace the bar A, and are hinged to the ears m, m, which rise from said bar, by means of the fulcrum pivots p.

The coupling bars B, have heads C, C, jointed to their extremities, in such a manner that the said heads have a free lateral play in all directions, and also in such" a manner that any concussion upon said heads will be received directly by the bar and not by the pivots s, s, which connect said heads to the bar; viz: The ends of said coupling bar are of a conical shape, and are received into recesses of corresponding shape in the heads C, C; oblong openings are made in the conical shaped ends of said bar, for the reception of' the connecting pins S, S. It will therefore be perceived that the draft will 'be upon the pins S, S, and the conv cusion of the bars A, against the heads C, C.

will drive them directly in contact with the coupling bar, without producing any strain upon the draft pins S, S.

The coupling bars B, must be of such a length as to prevent the guiding mouths D, D, from coming in contact. And the said coupling bars, must be of sufficient strength and stiffness to receive the bumping concussion of thecars.

The draft and bumper bars A, are combinedwith springs, and may be connected t-o the cars in any well known and usual manner.

When a number of cars are brought together, the heads C, of the coupling bars, pass into the guiding mouths D, and within the catches G, G, until they strike against the ends of the draft and bumper bars A; when the catches G, G, acted upon by the springs 7c, la, will cause said catches to embrace the heads C, C, between their shoulders and the ends of the bars A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The catches G, G, may be rigidly secured in the closed position, shown in Fig. 3, by fastening the lever E, by a suitable catch, in the position shown in Fig. 3. When said lever is not fastened insaid position, the outward pressure exerted upon said catches byv t-he heads of the coupling bars, in passing between them, will cause the embracing band H, to slide backward, upon the' inclined planes F, F, and allow'the catches to open. Vhen it is desired to uncouple a car, it is only necessary to draw the lever E, backward into the position shown in Fig. 5; which movement of said lever, draws the mouth D, within the catches G, G, and forces them outward, so that the head of the coupling bar can be drawn freely out from between them; the free play of said head upon the coupling bar, preventing it from catching and holding upon the lower catch, when the catches are forced outward.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The arrangement of the movable guiding mouth D, the catches G, G, the inclined planes F, F, the embracing band H, and the lever E, with each other and with the draft bar A in such a manner that the coupling bar B, will be self caught andv retained when brought in Contact with said parts, and by which it can also be readily liberated when the cars are in motion, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In combination with the spring catches ment in selfwy acting car eouplnzflgs' y"signed l G, G, and the movable mouth D, of the and witnessed this 2nd day of November coupling apparatus, I also claim the mov- 1854:. .l I

able heads C, C, of the coupling bar arn EDWARD RICE. 5 ranged substantially in the manner and for Witnesses: Y

the purpose herein set forth. K H. METGALF, The above speocaton of my mprove- J.'REZ`NOR. 

